MISSION

Founded in 1989, the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society currently has over 240 members. We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and each year we donate money and scholarships to youth organizations and groups. Each year we raise funds to provide art supplies for children’s art programs in the community.

To support and promote further education in and appreciation for watercolor art.

To provide inspiration and opportunities for its members and local artists of all levels to get involved in the visual arts and to exhibit their work.

To provide art activities including, but not limited to: art exhibits, educational programs, Plein air outings, demonstrations and workshops.

To support art education for young people of Coachella Valley.

To stimulate creative activity, interest and enjoyment of art among its members through programs presented at regular meetings.

To sponsor exhibits and show open to the public, giving its members an opportunity to display and promote their work.

To boldly paint where no one has painted before!

HISTORY

In 1989, three accomplished watercolorists, Wanda Boydstun, Connie Fassett, and Mary Minamide, founded the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society (CVWS). They envisioned a gathering of creative watercolor painters for the entire valley and grants for the appreciation and continuation of education in water media art for local youth programs. Today, they support art education for children in the Coachella Valley with a dynamic and growing membership.The monthly meetings are open to guests as well as members. CVWS is open to all levels of skill from the emerging artist to the credentialed water media artist.  Members are provided with opportunities to exhibit and sell their artwork in CVWS sponsored shows.  The shows are free to the public with attendance records of over several thousand annually.

Here a just a few highlights of the Society’s beginnings:

• • During the Society’s first year, the dedicated handful of members offered raffles to raise money. The funds raised then and which continues today, fulfills one of the Society’s goals of providing for various art programs in the Coachella Valley.
  • The first “Painter of the Month” award went to Carl Moore.
  • In May 1990, the first Annual Members Art Show took place at the lovely Aerie Art Garden owned by Society Charter Members Clonard and Bruce Thomas. Also in 1990, the first plein air “field mice” were born. They can be seen as they roam the desertscape for locations to paint.

The list of contributors to the Society’s success is extensive. Presidents, officers, committee chairs, and the commitment of many individuals, sponsors and donors deserve special recognition for the amazing development of the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society.

FOUNDING MEMBERS

• Wanda Boydstun
• Connie Fassett
• Mary Minamide

CHARTER MEMBERS

• Wanda Boydstun
• Pat Boydstun
• Connie Fassett
• Mary Minamide
• Helene Himot
• “Miss T” Imschweiller
• Alice Rosman
• Clonard Thomas
• Bruce Thomas
• Vivian Williams